The Epistles of Paul
Feb 01, 2016
The Epistles of Paul
Epistle as a GenreEpistle as a Genre
• What is an Epistle?
• What is the basic form of an Epistle?
• What was involved in sending a letter in the First Century?
The Epistles are to the Gospels The Epistles are to the Gospels what the Prophets are to the Torahwhat the Prophets are to the Torah
Torah
EpistlesGospels
Prophets
What are some of the “big ideas” What are some of the “big ideas” presented in Paul’s Epistles?presented in Paul’s Epistles?
Foundational Epistles
Romans1st & 2nd CorinthiansGalatians
EphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1st & 2nd Thessalonians
Prison Epistles
Prophetic Epistles
1st & 2nd TimothyTitusPhilemon
Pastoral Epistles
RomansRomans
What is the “big idea” in the What is the “big idea” in the Epistle to the Romans?Epistle to the Romans?
RomansRomans
The Righteousness of GodThe Righteousness of God
Chapters 1-8
The Righteousness of God has been The Righteousness of God has been revealed…revealed…
Chapters 9-11
Chapters 12-16
In judging sinners
In saving believers
In His dealings
with Israel
In the lives of those
who follow Him
Doctrinal PracticalObedience of Faith (1:5)
Obedience of Faith (1:5)
Obedience of Faith (16:26)
Obedience of Faith (16:26)
I am not ashamed of the gospel…I am not ashamed of the gospel…
• It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes
• In it the righteousness of God is revealed
How is the righteousness of God revealed in
the gospel?
How is the righteousness of God revealed in
the gospel?
• In the wrath of God toward those who sin (Romans 1-3)
• In the grace of God toward those who believe (Romans 4-8)
The Righteousness of God is The Righteousness of God is revealed…revealed…
• In judging the pagans who rejected In judging the pagans who rejected Him (Chapter 1)Him (Chapter 1)
• In judging the Jews who In judging the Jews who disobeyed Him (Chapter 2)disobeyed Him (Chapter 2)
• In judging all men who have In judging all men who have sinned against Him (Chapter 3)sinned against Him (Chapter 3)
Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
h[marton
Aorist active indicativeof a`marta,nw (hamartano)
Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
dikaiou,menoi
Present Passive Participleof dikaio,w (dikaioo)
Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
ca,riti Dative singularof ca,rij (charis)
Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
avpolutrw,sewj
Genative singular ofavpolu,trwsij (apolutrosis)
Romans 3:23-25a Romans 3:23-25a …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
i`lasth,rion
Accusative singular ofi`lasth,rioj (hilasterios)
Justification
Redemption
We sinnedWe sinned
Propitiation
God’s graceGod’s grace
How is a person
Justified?
Justification
Redemption
We sinnedWe sinned
Propitiation
God’s graceGod’s grace
How is a person
Justified?
Romans 4:1-2 Romans 4:1-2 What then shall we say that
Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:3Romans 4:3For what does the Scripture
say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
evlogi,sqh
Aorist passive indicative oflogi,zomai (logizomai)
Romans 4:4-5 Romans 4:4-5 Now to the one who works,
his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
logi,zetai
Present passive indicativeof logi,zomai (logizomai)
ReckonedReckoned
Our sinfulness
ReckonedReckoned
Christ’s Righteousness
Reckoned
Our sinfulness
The Righteousness of God is The Righteousness of God is revealed…revealed…
• In reckoning men as righteous by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ (Chapter 4)
• In declaring men to be righteous on the basis of the reckoning described in the previous chapter (Chapter 5)
Romans 5:12 Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through
one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--
One Man
Romans 5:13-14 Romans 5:13-14 …for until the Law sin was in
the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
Why did Why did people die people die between between
Adam and Adam and Moses?Moses?
if the law did if the law did not come not come
until Mosesuntil Moses
If sin is not If sin is not reckoned reckoned
without lawwithout law
and
then
If death If death comes comes
through sinthrough sin
and
Adam’s sin was imputed to all Adam’s sin was imputed to all menmen
Romans 5:18-19 Romans 5:18-19 So then as through one
transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
The Righteousness of God is revealed…The Righteousness of God is revealed…
• In reckoning men as righteous by crediting them with the righteousness of Christ (Chapter 4)
• In declaring men to be righteous on the basis of the reckoning described in the previous chapter (Chapter 5)
What about sin?What about sin?
– Can we continue to live in sin? (6)– What about the sin that is still in our lives? (7)
• In adopting us as His children (Chapter 8)
• Not all Israel is Israel.• God is sovereign and able to chose
whom He wills.• Salvation is offered to all who believe.• Israel’s unbelief has resulted in
blessings to the Gentiles.• All Israel will be saved.
What about What about Israel?Israel?
What about What about Israel?Israel?
How can we see God as righteous when How can we see God as righteous when His own chosen people do not believe His own chosen people do not believe and receive His promises?and receive His promises?
Chapters 1-11
DoctrinalChapters 12-16
PracticalSo What?
So What?
I Urge you…I Urge you…
• To present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice
• Do not be conformed to this world• Be transformed by the renewing of your
mind
What is Legalism?What is Legalism?
GalatiansGalatiansChapters 1-2 Chapters 3-4 Chapters 5-6
History Doctrine Practice
Paul’sapostleship
& vindication come from
the Lord
Man is justifiedthrough faith
alone
We are to walkby faith and
love
RomansRomans• Calm reflection • Passionate, emotional
GalatiansGalatians
• Christianity in the study
• Christianity on the battlefield
• Later Epistle • Earlier Epistle
• Justification by faith set forth systematically
• Justification by faith defended from attacks
• Our Constitution • Our Declaration of Independence
Galatians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from
men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…
Galatians 1:6-9 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:8-9Galatians 1:8-9
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Paul and JerusalemPaul and Jerusalem
• Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1)
• Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2:1-10)
• Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2:11-16)
Jerusalem
Antioch
Who hasBewitched
You? Did you receive the Spirit by the
works of the Law, or by
hearing with faith?
Are youso foolish?Having begun by
the Spirit, are you now being perfected
by the flesh?
Did you sufferso many things
in vain?
Does God givethe Spirit and
Miracles by theLaw or by Faith?
Salvation isSalvation isthrough faiththrough faith
Appeal toof Abraham
Appeal tothe Law
Appeal tothe Tutor
Appeal toAdoption
Appeal to the Covenant
Promise
Appeal tofriendshipAppeal to
Scripture
If you are free…If you are free…
Don’t be entangledin a yoke of bondage Don’t turn your
Freedom into anOpportunity for
The flesh
Walk bythe Spirit
Bear oneanother’sBurdens
Share allgood things
Do good toall men
Galatians 6:14-16Galatians 6:14-16 But may it never be that I
would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.